A Better Tomorrow (1986)

Produced by Tsui Hark and directed by John Woo, the two brilliant filmmakers made the first heroic-bloodshed action film that inspired the majority of the world’s recent films of the same genre.

A Better Tomorrow was the film that launched John Woo reputation as an action director after few failures in other genres. Through this film, Woo broke the usual Hong Kong ways of making action films that should always be either Kung Fu or Wuxia; he made a gangster film that became an absolute classic.

The film itself has a deep involving plot. It’s true that I admire John Woo films because I am an action junkie and I am forever in love with violent films but that’s not everything that I love about Woo’s films. What I also appreciate is his ways of making us feel the characters and care for their destinies as well as the relationships between them. The story within A Better Tomorrow is not some shallow action telling; there is the suffering of characters, the angst, the friendship, the brotherhood, the loyalty, the sacrifice and the rest of John Woo favorite themes that he never fails to make them shine.

If we leave the drama behind, we get an amazing action film with well-choreographed gunfights even if they were in a lesser amount than John Woo’s later films “The Killer” and “Hard Boiled”. You see, the usual John Woo pie of making action (heroic-bloodshed genre) is: guns, lots of guns, many people (preferably dead more than alive), two (or sometimes three) heroes who kill and kill then kill again, explosions, crazy gunplay and bullets flying everywhere. A Better Tomorrow was the film that started it all.

The acting was great, this was also the film that launched Chow Yun Fat’s stardom and made him take a big leap of success as a films’ actor. After this, he took the main role in almost all John Woo Hong Kong films. Then there’s Ti Lung and Leslie Cheng as a somewhat third lead; the three of them had a great combination but Chow Yun Fat had the strongest performance.
The characters weren’t always cool; they had their own pathetic pitiful moments which help the audience relate to them. And let’s not forget that their development was quite wonderful.

The cinematography was nice; I recently re-watched this film and it wasn’t even obvious that this was made in the 80’s. Needless to say, this is a great re-watching material especially after a long time of first viewing.

Watch if:
- You like John Woo action films because this is the one that started it all.
- You enjoy gangster films with brotherhood and friendship themes.
- You’re in the mood for a great action film.

Do not watch if:
- You dislike Action or violent films.
- You dislike John Woo’s work.

A Better Tomorrow is a classic out of its genre and a deep action film that still feels so good even after 30 years.

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"When it comes to the underworld, it's easier to get in than out."

In 1986, Tsui Hark and John Woo had the crazy idea of making a gangster film when comedy was all the rage. The film would star Ti Lung and Leslie Cheung and box office “poison”-Chow Yun Fat. A Better Tomorrow was expected to bomb but instead ruled the box office, influenced fashion, started a new film trend, and propelled Chow into action hero mode. After forty years, it showed its age for sure, but it was still a compelling story of brotherhood, sacrifice, and loyalty surrounded by a whole lot of bullets.

Sung Tse Ho is a triad member but also devoted to his younger brother Kit who is in the police academy. At his dying father’s behest he decides to give up the life of crime after his final mission in Taiwan. After being set up, he and underling Shing escape but are tracked down by the police. He surrenders so that Shing can escape. Ho’s blood brother Mark, makes sure the Taiwanese gangsters who betrayed Ho pay dearly. Unfortunately, so does Mark. After Ho’s release from prison, Kit refuses to reconcile, despite Ho desperately trying to go straight.

This was definitely a buddy bonding movie. There were male tears, hugs, heartfelt declarations, and sacrifice for each other amongst the blood, bullets, and beatings. I loved the cast. Ti Lung is one of my favorites from kung fu’s golden era. He gave a moving performance as a devoted brother and friend who just wanted to take a new path but kept getting dragged back in to the life he'd left behind. Leslie Cheung had the thankless job of being the naïve, obstinate, childlike brother hell bent on bringing Shing down. Chow Yun Fat who was hired because he didn’t look like a gangster, gave an iconic performance in his shades with a matchstick in his mouth. Mark went from overconfident “veteran” gangster to lackey to vengeful destroyer. Waise Lee was adequate as the slimy turncoat determined to bring everyone under his heel. I didn’t find him particularly menacing.

The shootouts were early gangster choreography. A few of the extras tried to push the bullets out of their guns which was humorous. But it was an evolving craft of bullet ballet that Woo would further refine through the years. A brutal beatdown had me turning away as it was too intense and personal to watch. I’m not a huge fan of these almost constant fire fights, at least this film didn’t have a high civilian body count. It was mostly gangster on gangster action.

I can see why A Better Tomorrow is considered a classic even with its flaws. Aside from the three stars I enjoyed spotting many players from the old martial arts flicks I’ve watched including Wang Hsieh and Tien Feng. If you are a John Woo fan and have not seen this film, it is definitely one to try. Because it’s pre-1990, I did give it a ratings bump.

15 September 2026

Trigger warnings: Bloody shootouts and beatings. Smoking. An impossibly stupid and klutzy female character.

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